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Graham Potter is quickly implementing his ideas since taking over from Julen Lopetegui at West Ham United, bringing a back five system into play, looking to maximise his best players and stabilise things at the club.

This has seen Mohammed Kudus used more from a right-side central position, getting closer to goal and bouncing off of a focal point upfront, and the usage of wingbacks, which has even seen Crysencio Summerville used in a hybrid role.

Whilst Lucas Paqueta has played a variety of roles already, including the focal point through the middle, which he did to great effect, Potter has allowed Paqueta to move freely, linking play and putting his print on the game as he does so well.

West Ham can definitely go up another level under Potter though, and a certain acquisition could go a long way towards making that next step.

Latest West Ham transfer news

According to reports from CaughtOffside, West Ham have already made an offer to Lille midfielder, Angel Gomes, offering a pre-contract to the 24-year-old star. However, Tottenham are also said to have already held talks for Gomes, whilst Manchester United could also choose to attempt to bring the player back.

The English midfielder, of course, came through the Man United academy, leaving the club in 2020 when his contract expired, rejecting a new deal at the club to go to Lille, where he was then given a loan to Boavista to aid his development, before returning to play for the French outfit.

Gomes has made 18 appearances for Lille this season so far, scoring two goals, providing one assist, contributing to five clean sheets and totalling 980 minutes played.

Why Gomes could shine under Potter

If Gomes were to sign for West Ham and play for Potter, one player who he could be compared to is Alexis Mac Allister, who worked under Potter at Brighton, playing 77 games for him, scoring 12 goals, providing six assists and totalling 4,701 minutes played.

It was under Potter at Brighton where Mac Allister really took his game to the next level, and Gomes could easily become that fulcrum of the team for West Ham being utilised in a similar way to the Argentine.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Gomes

Mac Allister

Goals + Assists

0.36

0.34

Progressive Carries

1.67

1.27

Progressive Passes

5.67

5.81

Passes Attempted

43.3

45.2

Pass Completion %

82.6%

80.5%

Key Passes

1.78

1.31

Passes into Final Third

3.56

4.41

Passes into Pen Area

1.78

1.06

Tackles + Interceptions

1.33

3.25

Ball Recoveries

1.89

6.31

When comparing Gomes’s underlying metrics for this campaign to those of Mac Allister in the 2021/22 season for Brighton, you can see how both players look to affect the game in a similar way, making progressive passes, looking to control the tempo, push the pace and contribute in all phases, including with their off-ball work.

Gomes has been described as “sublime” by ex-West Ham defender Matthew Upson, after providing an assist for England teammate, Jack Grealish, against Greece. Despite losing the game 2-1, Gomes proved he is more than capable of playing for the Three Lions at the top level.

Potter could be the perfect manager to take Gomes to the next level, rejoining the Premier League and utilising his skill set to control the tempo of games.

Not only that, but West Ham would benefit greatly from the added mobility and extra on-ball quality in the build-up, which makes this the perfect move for all parties involved.

He's better than Ferguson: West Ham make late move to sign new striker

West Ham can sign a “strong footballer” who’s even better than Ferguson

ByConnor Holden Jan 29, 2025

With just over two weeks to go in the transfer market, Ruben Amorim is yet to make any new additions to his Manchester United squad to try and make his own mark after taking over in November.

There’s no question that new signings are needed if the side are to move in the right direction under the 39-year-old, especially considering their lowly Premier League standing of 12th after the first 21 outings.

Supporters have grown frustrated in recent months, understandably so given the previous success in the North West, especially considering the rise of the likes of Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth, who are battling it out for a European spot this season.

Many of the frustrations have been a result of the poor recruitment, with many of the players brought into the club failing to make the desired impact – numerous of which haven’t been worth the fees forked out for their services.

However, if the club are to invest in the near future, outgoings need to be made, with countless members of the first-team already being touted with departures from the Theatre of Dreams.

Man Utd’s potential attacking outgoings in January

Numerous players have been touted with a move away from Old Trafford, including £86m man Antony, who has been of interest from the likes of Real Betis and Olympiacos over the last few days.

The Brazilian isn’t the only one close to the exit door, with fellow attacker Alejandro Garnacho also attracting interest from Italian side Napoli, who look set to lose their own star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG.

The Argentine could well leave after previously dropping out of Amorim’s side completely, but the Red Devils would demand a fee in the region of £60m to offload the youngster this month.

Garnacho could be followed out of the door by Marcus Rashford, with the Englishman almost certain to depart his boyhood club after a fallout with the new manager which has seen him excluded from the 39-year-old’s plans.

Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and West Ham have all been mooted as potential destinations for the 27-year-old, whether that be on a temporary or permanent basis.

Should they lose all three of the aforementioned attackers, the side would be massively lacking in options within the final third, making it crucial that the hierarchy target replacements accordingly before the end of the window.

The player who would be an upgrade on Rashford

Out of the three players linked with a move from Old Trafford, a deal for Rashford would undoubtedly be a sad one for the supporters, especially after his long-standing affiliation with the football club.

The Englishman has made over 400 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring more than 130 goals, producing countless moments of magic during his time in the first team.

However, no player is bigger than the club, with trust needing to be put in the new manager to make his own impact on the squad to try and lead them back to their glory days.

A deal for the academy graduate could make room for Lille star Jonathan David to make a switch to Old Trafford as a result, handing Amorim with the added attacking reinforcements he’s desired recently.

The Canadian has been linked with a move to join the Red Devils this month, along with the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, but could be an absolute bargain given his current contract situation.

David is out of contract in the summer, either opening the door to a pre-contract agreement to join in the summer, or moving for a minimal fee in this window.

Any move would hand Amorim an upgrade on Rashford, softening the blow of his potential departure away from the North West over the coming weeks.

Games played

17

15

Goals & assists

12

5

Shots on target

1

0.8

Pass accuracy

82%

74%

Take-on success

52%

23%

Aerials won

0.6

0.4

Fouls won

1.3

0.6

The Lille ace, who’s been dubbed a “superstar” by international teammate Jonathan Osario, has massively outscored the Englishman and also posted a higher shot-on-target rate, proving Amorim a clinical option in forward areas.

He’s also managed to complete more of his attempted take-ons, whilst achieving a higher pass completion rate, potentially being the perfect all-round option for United in attacking areas – ending their current dilemma over who should be the regular starter at the top end of the pitch.

All things considered, it would be a superb addition should the club land David before the end of the transfer window, possessing a lot of qualities that could massively improve the club’s fortunes in the years ahead.

However, given the competition for his signature, they would have to act quickly to land a talent who would be the perfect replacement for Rashford – and Garnacho – should the pair complete their own transfer.

INEOS ready bid to sign "big talent" who could be Man Utd's new Zlatan

Ruben Amorim appears to be wasting no time in making his mark on the Manchester United squad.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jan 16, 2025

Chris Dent’s second LV= Insurance County Championship century of the season failed to prevent Lancashire edging an absorbing first day against Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.The experienced opener continued a highly impressive season by scoring an unbeaten 109 off 246 balls, with 16 fours, but saw his team slip from 156 for 2 to close on 279 for 7.Left-arm spinner Jack Morley, who celebrated his 21st birthday on the eve of the match, claimed 3 for 79 from 23 overs on only his second first-class appearance, while there were two wickets each for Tom Bailey and Luke Wood.Dent’s innings took his tally of runs from just eight Championship innings in an injury-hit season to 484 at an average of over 80. But his team had only themselves to blame for a series of poor shots, having elected to take first use of what looked an excellent batting pitch.Only 14 overs were possible in a morning session twice interrupted by showers. By lunch, the hosts had reached 30 without loss, with George Scott on 19 and Dent 11.The rain breaks meant Lancashire opening bowlers Bailey and Will Williams could extend their spells, Bailey striking with the first ball of his ninth over when Scott, on 23, edged to Keaton Jennings at second slip.The opening stand had been worth 38. Soon Dent and Glenn Phillips, who hit Williams straight for six off the back foot, were building on it positively.Dent struck three fours off the first seven deliveries he received from Wood, who was also pulled for six by Phillips before the overseas signing surrendered his wicket.On 19, with the total 85, he lofted Morley straight down the throat of George Balderson at deep square.Dent moved to his fifty with a pulled four off Williams, having faced 113 balls and hit 10 fours, receiving good support from fellow left-hander Miles Hammond as they added 62 by tea, which was taken at 147 for 2.An evening session of 40 overs began with Hammond, having moved stylishly to 37, carelessly driving a full, wide ball from Bailey straight to Steven Croft at point to leave his side 156 for 3.It signalled a turning point. James Bracey progressed to 15 effortlessly, but then clipped a full ball from Wood off his toes in the air to mid-wicket where Williams took a fine sharp catch.Ryan Higgins became the next Gloucestershire player to fall to a poorly executed shot, skying an attempted slog sweep off Morley to slip and departing for 11.When Oliver Price went lbw to the next ball, hit on the back pad, the home team had slumped to 209 for 6, with only Dent showing the necessary level of durability.Tom Price could make only a single before, having been softened up by some quick short balls from Wood, he was yorked by the left-arm seamer from around the wicket to make it 214 for 7.By then Dent had moved untroubled to 86 and looked in danger of running out of partners. But he found a more reliable one in Zafar Gohar and moved calmly to a 235-ball ton in the 84th over, shortly after the second new ball had been taken.Gofar was unbeaten on 31 at stumps, having helped to rescue a sinking ship.On the previous occasion when Dent reached three figures this summer, he went on to make 207 not out against Surrey at Bristol.

Phoenix, Invincibles make new signings after Matthew Fisher, Saqib Mahmood ruled out

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2022Tom Helm and Gus Atkinson have signed contracts in the Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix and Oval Invincibles respectively.Matthew Fisher and Saqib Mahmood, the fast bowlers who made their Test debuts for England in the Caribbean, have both been ruled out of the competition with stress fractures of the lower back, leaving both teams seeking replacements.Phoenix have brought Helm back as Fisher’s replacement. He was expensive for them last year, conceding more than two runs per ball and taking five wickets in seven appearances, but was considered unfortunate to miss out on selection at April’s draft.Related

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“Whilst we’re naturally disappointed to lose Matt Fisher, we’re very pleased to have re-signed a talented pace bowler who we know well in Tom Helm,” Craig Flindall, Phoenix’s general manager, said.Helm impressed in the early rounds of the County Championship season for Middlesex this year, bowling with good pace, but took 1 for 56 in four overs in his comeback from a minor injury in the T20 Blast on Thursday night.Atkinson, meanwhile, was an unused member of Southern Brave’s squad last year, signing halfway through the tournament as a replacement. He has not featured for Surrey in the Blast this year due to their seam depth but is highly rated by their management and is likely to play when they lose Reece Topley and Sam Curran to England’s ODI tour to the Netherlands.Each team in the Hundred – both men’s and women’s – signed an extra overseas player in Thursday’s wildcard draft, and men’s teams will add a final domestic wildcard player in early July.

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, too, believes Pant is at his batting best when he’s “reckless”

Yash Jha10-May-20224:18

Shastri to Pant: Bat in the ‘Russell mode’

If Rishabh Pant wants to get the best out of himself as a batter and help Delhi Capitals in the remainder of this IPL, then he needs to bat in the Andre Russell “mode” without thinking too much . That is the simple suggestion of former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who also believes that Pant can become a matchwinner if Capitals use him at No. 3.Related

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“I feel once he gets the tempo going he shouldn’t change, he should be in the [Andre] Russell mould in this format of the game,” Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out. “You get your eye in, you’re striking it well – don’t think too much. No matter who the bowler is, if it’s there to be smacked, smack it. Who knows, you might win more matches than people expect you to.”It’s been an indifferent campaign for Pant, much like Capitals, who are four points behind the top four, having registered five wins and six losses in 11 games so far. Pant has reached at least 20 in eight of his ten innings in the campaign, but hasn’t converted any of those knocks into fifties.Shastri believes the clarity of mindset that sets Russell apart as one of the most destructive batters in the shortest format will serve Pant well.”Russell is very, very clear in his mindset. It is bang-bang-bang once he’s in the mood. There’s no stopping him, there’s not even a negative thought that will peep through his system – it is [all about] smacking. Rishabh is totally capable of playing in that fashion, and I hope he thinks in that way because you’ll see some special innings from him in T20 cricket.”Those special knocks in his early years are what set Pant apart as a batter with a tremendously high ceiling: he smashed 1172 runs from 30 innings in IPL 2018 and 2019, averaging over 45 and striking at nearly 170 (average 45.07, SR 168.88) – with nine 50-plus scores.Since taking over as Capitals’ skipper in 2021, though, Pant has had two middling campaigns in varying capacities. Last season, visibly bogged down in his approach, he finished with a strike rate below 130; this year, he’s striking at more than 150, but failing to kick on and deliver match-winning efforts. Shastri doesn’t think Pant needs to temper his approach. “He’s getting off to starts and then getting out in a manner which he wouldn’t like, but I don’t think he should change his tempo.”It’s a sentiment shared by former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.”Rishabh Pant is almost at his best when he’s reckless, and we’ve seen him play some exceptional innings when he just continues to take teams down time and time again,” Vettori said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out following Capitals’ latest defeat – a 91-run thrashing in pursuit of Chennai Super Kings’ 208 at DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

That was the fifth time out of seven attempts where Capitals lost chasing – with targets in the range of 172 to 223 in those defeats – and Pant’s scores in those games read 43(29), 34(17), 44(24), 44(30), 21(11). While some of these matches demanded a hell-for-leather approach, there were a few where the equation appeared to be in Capitals’ grasp – against Gujarat Titans in Pune, they needed 54 off 36 (chasing 172) when Pant fell, and went on to lose by 14 runs; when he got out versus Lucknow Super Giants, a target of 196 had boiled down to 76 needed from 43 balls, and Capitals eventually lost by six runs.It hasn’t helped that the Capitals are short on finishing prowess, with the likes of Lalit Yadav, Axar Patel and Ripal Patel often batting as high as No. 6. And probably that has prompted Pant to put a lid on his uninhibited batting approach, which remains his strength. Shastri, however, said that Pant should understand the burden is not all his to finish the job.”It’s a team game, you don’t expect an individual to go and win the game all the time. But in that short period of time, if he does the damage, there’s enough damage to bring that required rate from say 12 an over to 10 an over. Then it’s for the other guys to take it home.”In their remaining three matches, Capitals face a virtual must-win scenario. To get the best out of Pant which will empower the team’s batting, Shastri has identified a clear route for his former ward. “I’d like to see him bat at three for Delhi Capitals, especially now when the heat is on, when they’ve got to win. Let him go and smack it.”Both Shastri and Vettori agreed that Pant was on the cusp of turning the corner. “He’s threatened, I feel like he’s threatened in every game,” Vettori said. “We’ve had discussions around whether he’s out of form and I’ve suggested because of his strike rate – against pace and spin, still over 150 for both facets – that he’s so close to having that big performance. I think that big innings can still happen in these last three games.”

South Africa’s head coach Mark Boucher has said that his side’s “fear of failure” played a role in their defeat in the ODI series against Bangladesh. Boucher repeated the phrase several times during the post-match press conference, adding that the team lacked belief in playing spin, something that he considered they did well in Sri Lanka last year.The home side were bowled out for 154 in 37 overs, with offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz getting Bangladesh the initial breakthrough of Quinton de Kock’s wicket, while Shakib Al Hasan kept things steady later in the innings. Taskin Ahmed took eight wickets in both of South Africa’s losses, but Boucher believed that if they handled Mehidy and Shakib better, they could have won this series.Related

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“We lacked the intent today,” Boucher said. “After we got off to a very good start today, we went to sleep. It is certainly not the way we want to play. We wanted to take the game forward after a good start. We just didn’t manage to do that. I think they bowled well but you have to take some risks to create scoring opportunities. It was almost like we went out with the fear of getting out, rather than going out to set a total. The way the wicket played, it was over 300.”I think (the ODI side needs) belief in the way we want to play. We played spin well in Sri Lanka, but when we came to South Africa where the conditions helped the spinners, we went back to the old way of playing. We are still having a lot of chats, to try to get the guys to believe that this is the way to play spin in turning conditions.”It was almost Indian-sort of conditions in our home country. We want the guys to be proactive, but they didn’t do it today. We have been working on our shot selection. The guys know they have the armory to do that, but it is one thing to understand that you got it, but it is another thing to execute it. There seem to be a little bit of a block and fear of getting out, rather than understanding that the game is about runs and try to put the fear of failure out of your mind.”Boucher said that that the lack of pace offered by Bangladesh’s spinners was the key difference between how they played spin in Sri Lanka, and against India at home, and how they handled Bangladesh.”If you look at where we have come from, we always had problem playing spin. We worked hard to score all around the wicket. We have to be nice and aggressive, but also smart when playing spin. Certain players like Rassie (van der Dussen) did it against India in Paarl.”He took the game on, and it changed the whole state of the game. Bangladesh’s spinners bowled really slowly against us, so it is always difficult to run down and hit the ball over the top. We have the skillset to do it. I just think that the belief was not there maybe against this type of bowling. We almost went into our shells in this series.”Boucher, however, conceded that South Africa were outplayed by Bangladesh, which has set off some alarm bells for their direct qualification to the 2023 World Cup. Currently, South Africa are in ninth position in the ICC ODI Super League points table.”The alarm bells are always there. We are putting ourselves under pressure but we have to come to the party. I certainly believe that if we rock up, we stick to our game plans, we arrive with confidence, we can beat anyone in the world. We have shown that in the T20 World Cup.”It is basically the same personnel in our one-day team as well. We have a lot of things to talk about. We have beaten those teams (India, England, Australia) before. We have to beat them again to qualify (to the World Cup).”

كشف أحمد حسام ميدو، عضو لجنة التخطيط بنادي الزمالك، آخر تفاصيل ملف أحمد سيد زيزو، مُشيراً إلى أن النادي الأهلي تواصل مع سانت إيتيان، من أجل ضم محمود بنتايج.

وقال ميدو في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “أؤكد أن زيزو لديه الرغبة في الاستمرار مع الزمالك، وأؤكد أن الأهلي يُحاول بكل قوة لضم زيزو، وجلسوا مع والده، وحاولوا ضم اللاعب، والأمر لا يتوقف على زيزو فقط، بل إن هناك 5 أو 6 لاعبين في الزمالك، الأهلي يريد ضمهم، الهدف الأساسي لمجلس إدارة الأهلي هو التوقيع مع لاعبي الزمالك”.

وتابع: “نحن كلجنة تخطيط أمامنا بعض الملفات المهمة، وهي الحفاظ على استقرار الفريق، حسمنا ملف عمر جابر، ونعمل في ملف محمد السيد والونش وعبد الله السعيد”.

طالع أيضاً.. حازم إمام يحدد موعد انتهاء ملف تجديد زيزو مع الزمالك.. ويصرح: توقيعه لناد آخر “حرية شخصية”

وواصل: “نجلي حسين تحت أمر الزمالك دائمًا، أولادنا دائمًا تحت أمر الزمالك”.

وأوضح: “النادي الأهلي تواصل مع سانت إيتيان لكي يضم بنتايج، ونحن نجحنا في تفعيل بند شراء اللاعب، وهذا انتصار كبير لنا، عندما نرى المنافس يحاول ضم لاعبيك وأنت تنجح في إنهاء موقفهم والإبقاء عليهم، فهذا نجاح كبير جدًا، (هل الشطارة مش موجودة إلا على لاعبي الزمالك!)، هناك 2 لاعبين أساسيين في الأهلي (أقسم بالله وحياة أولادي طالبين يجلسوا معي عشان يوقعوا للزمالك، وحياة أولادي ده حصل، لكن إحنا سياستنا مش إضعاف المنافسين ولكن سياستنا هي ضم احتياجتنا وكان ردنا على اللاعبين إننا مش محتاجنهم الآن)”.

وأكمل: “(اشمعنى الزمالك! ليه لاعبي الزمالك عند مجلس إدارة الأهلي هم أحسن لاعبين في العالم؟)، نحن نحترم الجميع ونحترم مجلس إدارة الأهلي، ونقول لهم لو هذه هي سياستكم وإن الهدف الأول والرئيسي لكم إنكم توقعوا مع لاعبي الزمالك، فأقسم بالله العظيم لدينا شيكات مفتوحة ونقدر أن نوقع مع أي لاعب في الأهلي، لكن هذه ليست سياستنا، سياستنا أن نبحث عن احتياجاتنا، وليس إضعاف المنافسين”.

وأردف: “أقسم بالله نحن لدينا إمكانيات مادية تجعلني أوقع مع أي لاعب في الأهلي، لكن هذه ليست سياستي، أنا سياستي تطوير فريقي بالمراكز التي أحتاجها، ولا تشغلني السوشيال ميديا”.

وأتم: “أنا لعبت في 10 أندية وتفاوضت مع 25 ناديًا، في الكرة لا تضمن أي شيء إلا عندما يوقع رئيس النادي على ورق التعاقد، أنا لم أر لاعبًا في السنوات الأخيرة حريص أن يبقى في الزمالك مثل زيزو، ومن دون أن أضع أي ضغوط على نفسي، أنا أطمئن جمهور الزمالك، الزمالك له رجال مخلصين يعملون 24 ساعة لمصلحة الزمالك، وأعدكم (زي ما انتصرنا في مباراة القمة خارج الملعب، إن شاء الله ستسمعون أخبارًا جيدة)”.

Reliable journalist Adam Pope has given an update on the absence of Leeds United player Patrick Bamford in the 3-0 victory against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon.

Leeds cruise to victory over Plymouth

The Whites hosted a struggling Plymouth side in the Championship knowing that they were strong favourites to prevail at Elland Road. While the league is one of the hardest to predict in Europe, it never felt like being anything other than a home win on Saturday.

Daniel Farke’s side raced into a 3-0 lead before half-time, effectively putting the game to bed, with Dan James, Joel Piroe and Brenden Aaronson all finding the back of the net. It meant that Leeds were able to be in cruise control during the second half, with the scoreline not changing and the hosts preserving energy ahead of more fixtures during a busy period.

The Whites’ one-sided victory means they sit second in the Championship table and look in a great position to go one better than last season, sealing promotion to the Premier League, hopefully by virtue of finishing in one of the two automatic places.

Sunderland’s 0-0 draw away to Queens Park Rangers also means that Leeds are now only three points behind the current league leaders, so it was a positive afternoon all round for Farke and his players. Bamford was absent from proceedings, however, and a key update has emerged explaining why.

Leeds journalist explains Bamford's absence vs Plymouth

Writing on X, Pope claimed that “we’re told Bamford is ill today”, adding in a separate post that the Leeds striker “couldn’t train but maybe back for Millwall” on Wednesday evening.

It is good to know that the 31-year-old’s absence wasn’t because of an injury, suggesting that he will overcome his illness and be available for selection again in no time, potentially even for the trip to Millwall in the coming days.

That being said, the £70,000-a-week Bamford has been a spectator for much of this season, seemingly not being rated by Farke as a key player. He has only actually appeared in five Championship matches in total and hasn’t started a single game in the competition in 2024/25 to date. Just 47 minutes of action have come his way in the process, showing that he has barely been a part of the campaign.

The Englishman has undeniable quality that could still be important during a long and taxing season, though, with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp even once waxing lyrical over him, saying: “He’s an exceptional player, perfect. The work rate is outstanding and still playing the football he plays on top of that and scoring goals, that’s rare.”

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Dan Emery

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It remains to be seen what the future holds for Bamford, but he is out of contract in the summer of 2026, so next year currently feels like the right time to part ways. That would allow Leeds to receive a fee for him, and let the attacker enjoy more regular player time away from Elland Road.

Pundits, journalists, and fans alike often talk about the ‘magic of the FA Cup’. What exactly is it, however, that makes the FA Cup so special?

Is it the fact that the competition is the oldest in football’s history, even pre-dating the World Cup? Certainly. Is it because it remains one of the only free-to-watch domestic football tournaments on British television? Perhaps.

Or is it because its first major fixtures traditionally begin on the first weekend of the new year, when the spirit of Christmas still lingers in the air and grounds across the country are shrouded in a yuletide mist? Most definitely.

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1 ByRoss Kilvington May 12, 2025

More than any of those things, however, the FA Cup is ‘magic’ because, more than in any other competition, it’s an opportunity for the underdogs to upset the big boys and pull off an infamous giant-killing.

Any club that is part of the English Football League system can partake in the FA Cup, meaning the likes of AFC Marine can end up playing Tottenham Hotspur, and Havant & Waterlooville can earn a trip to Anfield.

Marine and Havant weren’t able to pull off major upsets, but over the years, there have been plenty of others who have. So, with that in mind, here are our picks for the nine greatest-ever FA Cup upsets, ranked by shock value and importance.

9 Man City 0-1 Wigan, 2013 Watson's wonderful header wins cup for Latics

Manchester City weren’t quite the omnipotent footballing force they are today back in 2013, but Roberto Mancini’s squad was still full of world-class stars like David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero.

So when they faced relegation-threatened Wigan in the 2013 FA Cup final, only one outcome was expected. Instead, the Latics pulled off a remarkable upset, with midfielder Ben Watson scoring a 91st-minute winner for Roberto Martinez’s side in a historic 1-0 triumph.

Their celebrations didn’t last too long, though. Just three days later, Wigan were relegated from the Premier League after being thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal. They remain the only team to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season.

8 Liverpool 0-1 Wimbledon, 1988 The Crazy Gang beat the Culture Club

Liverpool were the most dominant side in English and European football in the 1980s. But in the 1988 FA Cup final, they came unstuck against Bobby Gould’s rough-and-ready Wimbledon side.

Dons midfielder Vinnie Jones set the tempo for the game early on, crashing into Steve McMahon in the opening minutes. From there, Gould’s team started chipping away at the Reds and got their reward in the 37th minute when midfielder Lawrie Sanchez headed home a Dennis Wise free-kick.

With an hour on the clock, Liverpool were given a lifeline in the form of a penalty. John Aldridge took it, but it was saved by Dave Beasant, and Wimbledon held on for the win.

At the final whistle, BBC commentator John Motson delivered the famous line: “The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club.”

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ByRoss Kilvington Oct 30, 2024 7 Man Utd 0-1 Leeds, 2010 Brilliant Beckford bests Red Devils

Jermaine Beckford. Remember the name? Sir Alex Ferguson certainly will.

In January 2010, Manchester United, the reigning Premier League champions, hosted Leeds United at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup. One of their biggest rivals, Leeds had sunk down to League One by this point, and as such, Ferguson’s side were expected to dismantle their visitors.

Beckford, however, had other ideas, with the Jamaica international scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for Leeds, which left Ferguson fuming.

“I am shocked by the performance because our preparation for the game was very good. But we never got going,” the Scotsman said after. “We spoke about Beckford’s pace up front and we were caught napping.”

6 Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal, 1992 Red Dragons shock champions in gargantuan upset

Wrexham were rooted to the foot of the Fourth Division when they met Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.

It looked like it was going to be a routine win for the Gunners after Alan Smith put them in front, however a superb 25-yard free-kick from Mickey Thomas with 10 minutes to play left things in the balance.

Wrexham sensed blood and then pushed for the winner, which they got late, late on through Steve Watkin.

Not only was the win one of the biggest in Red Dragons’ history, but it also proved to be the catalyst in turning the club’s season around as they went on to escape relegation by finishing 14th in the league.

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ByStephan Georgiou Oct 8, 2024 5 Shrewsbury 2-1 Everton, 2003 Toffees dumped out by fourth-tier Shrews

In January 2003, Third Division side Shrewsbury Town pulled off a huge upset as they beat Premier League high-flyers Everton 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.

Shrewsbury, who were managed by Everton’s most successful captain Kevin Ratcliffe at the time, took the lead through veteran Nigel Jemson, who curled in a superb free-kick from the edge of the box.

Substitute Niclas Alexandersson looked to have spared the Toffees’ blushes when he equalised on the hour mark, but Jemson then scored again with just a minute left to play, this time heading in Ian Woan’s free-kick at Richard Wright’s near post.

It was a joyous moment for the Shrews, but their season ended in dismay as they were relegated from the Football League.

4 Bournemouth 2-0 Man Utd, 1984 Harry Redknapp's Cherries knock holders out

Prior to losing to Leeds in 2010, the last time Manchester United were beaten by lower-league opposition was by Bournemouth in the third round of the 1984 FA Cup.

On that day, a young Harry Redknapp was in charge at the Division Three side, who emerged as 2-0 victors against the previous year’s winners thanks to goals from Milton Graham and Ian Thompson.

In a report from the Evening Echo after the match, reporter Colin Smith wrote: “Bournemouth bubbled while United toiled – and were troubled. They say the Cup is a great leveller. But it was not the case this time, because the home side outclassed their opposition.”

3 Sunderland 1-0 Leeds, 1973 Revie's men rolled over in finale upset

Sunderland were all the way down in Division Two when they faced all-conquering Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final.

In a turn of events that nobody saw coming, however, the Black Cats turned over Don Revie’s side, with a 32nd-minute goal from Ian Porterfield and a Gordon Banks-esque reflex save from goalkeeper Jim Montgomery enough to secure Sunderland their first FA Cup since 1937.

“I should pack it all in. there’ll never be another moment like it,” Sunderland boss Bob Stokoe said after the match.

2 Chelsea 2-4 Bradford, 2015 Bantams bite the Blues at Stamford Bridge

When Chelsea hosted Bradford City in the FA Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge in January 2015, the Blues were top of the Premier League while the Bantams were in League One.

On the day, things started as expected, with the hosts soaring into a 2-0 lead within 38 minutes thanks to goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires.

Against all odds, however, Bradford then mounted an astonishing comeback, starting with a goal from former Premier League striker Jonathan Stead and ending with an added-time strike from Football League journeyman Mark Yeates.

To add insult to injury, former Chelsea academy star Filipe Morais was also on the scoresheet for the visitors.

1 Sutton United 2-1 Coventry, 1989 Super Sutton stun Sky Blues

In 1987, Coventry City won the FA Cup for the first time. Less than two years later, however, they were sent crashing out in the third round at the hands of a team four leagues below them.

Managed by Welshman Barrie Williams, Sutton United beat the Sky Blues 2-1 in front of 8,000 fans at Gander Green Lane, with Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan scoring the vital goals.

One of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history, Williams said after: “The enormity of this result will reverberate throughout the whole of soccer.”

It wasn’t until 2013 that another non-league side beat a team from the top tier of English football, when Luton Town beat Norwich City 2-1.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 27, 2024

The defender haunted his old club after the Argentine winger sparked the Red Devils back into life following a typically drab first half

Harry Maguire used his massive head to steer Manchester United past his old club Leicester City and into the fifth round of the FA Cup after a stirring second half comeback from the holders. United's revival was sparked by the brilliance of Alejandro Garnacho and helped by the absence of VAR in the early rounds of the FA Cup, as Maguire's added-time winner was clearly offside.

As ever, the Red Devils conceded the first goal as a catalogue of defensive errors allowed Bobby De Cordova-Reid to pounce on the rebound at the end of the first half. At that moment the returning Ruud van Nistelrooy was on course to record as many victories at Old Trafford this season as Ruben Amorim.

The Portuguese coach acted decisively, removing debutant Patrick Dorgu at half-time for Garnacho, who woke United up with surging and relentless runs down the left wing. He was inches away from levelling when his strike was deflected off the crossbar and scrambled off the line and he was also crucial to United equalising, crossing for Joshua Zirkzee to stab home from close range.

United looked the most likely side to go on and win it and they did right at the death when Maguire met a fizzing Bruno Fernandes free-kick and sent it crashing into the net.

GOAL rates Man United's players from Old Trafford…

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Andre Onana (6/10):

Made a good save from Ndidi albeit only sending the ball to De Cordova-Reid. Showed authority in the air.

Leny Yoro (5/10):

Got dazzled by El Khannouss before the goal in the latest sign of his struggles to adapt to the level.

Harry Maguire (7/10):

Didn't pick up Ndidi for the goal but steadied himself in the second half, winning every header to stop his former club in their tracks. And then provided the ultimate header to win the game.

Noussair Mazraoui (6/10):

Made a crucial tackle on El Khannouss and pleased the crowd with a battling late surge forward.

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Patrick Dorgu (6/10):

A bright debut, linking up nicely with Dalot and showcasing his pace as well as his two-footedness, so it was surprising to see him come off at half-time.

Manuel Ugarte (5/10):

Gave the ball away in the build-up to the goal. Stayed combative and risked a red card for an aggressive tackle on Harry Winks.

Bruno Fernandes (6/10):

Had a flat first half but came alive in the second. Set up the winner with a postage-stamp cross for Maguire.

Diogo Dalot (6/10):

His boundless energy helped United turn the game around.

AFPAttack

Kobbie Mainoo (4/10):

Lacked confidence and it was another uninspiring display in an attacking role. Hooked in the 64th minute and it says a lot that Zirkzee performed much better.

Rasmus Hojlund (4/10):

Couldn't spark any danger and couldn't get on the end of Garnacho's crosses from the left.

Amad Diallo (5/10):

Worked hard but not as dangerous as he can be and United's best moments came down the opposite flank.

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Alejandro Garnacho (8/10):

His thrusting runs and trickery down the wing revitalised United after the break. Almost equalised then teed up Zirkzee and should have scored but he ultimately swung the game back in United's favour.

Joshua Zirkzee (6/10):

In right place and right time to equalise but deserves credit for the way he held the ball up.

Casemiro (N/A):

Brought on in added time.

Ruben Amorim (6/10):

Made amends for a stale first half with positive substitutions.